Observations focused on the problems of an underdeveloped country, Venezuela, with some serendipity about the world (orchids, techs, science, investments, politics) at large. A famous Venezuelan, Juan Pablo Perez Alfonzo, referred to oil as the devil's excrement. For countries, easy wealth appears indeed to be the sure path to failure. Venezuela might be a clear example of that.

Two South African wild life phtographers were kidnapped by a hostile tribe in the Amazon river basin and denied medical treatment while they made the first major exploration of the two thousand kilometer long Jurua river. Yes, that’s like over one thousand miles in length. Incredible to think that there are still unexplored rivers, hostile tribes and new sights to see. I bet these guys rest a while before going back to exploring.